Antifa protesters have clashed with supporters of white nationalist Richard Spencer in dramatic scenes of violence.
Police say at least 24 people were arrested on Monday at the East Lansing campus of Michigan State University, after antifa tried to deny access to a speech delivered by Spencer.
Officers formed lines outside the auditorium to try to keep the peace and protect people who had tickets as they entered the event. The officers wore helmets and clutched batons.
An estimated 500 antifa protesters chanted ‘Nazis go home’ as police tried to hold them back and allow about 30 of Spencer’s supporters through. But the police line didn’t hold.
Members of the alt-right including members of the Traditionalist Workers Party fight with antifa protesters outside of a Richard Spencer speech on the campus of Michigan State University
An estimated 500 protesters including masked antifa massed on the campus chanting ‘Nazis go home’
Members of the alt-right including Matthew Heimback (center) from the Traditionalist Workers Party arrive onto the campus of Michigan State University for a Richard Spencer speech
Cops formed lines outside the auditorium to try to keep the peace and protect people who had tickets as they entered
Members of various antifa groups and other protesters lock arms in front of a line of cops on the MSU campus
Police try to hold back antifa protesters (left) as they escort a Spencer supporter (right) into the venue
A man salutes and yells ‘white power’ after being stopped from entering the Spencer speaking event by antifa
Members of the various anti-fascist groups and other protesters yell at police officers on the campus of MSU
The antifa protesters broke through the lines and swarmed the attendees, pelting them with objects and throwing punches.
One protester kicking the bicycle of an officer, screaming, ‘F**king Nazi cops!’ video from the scene shows.
Members of the far-right group Traditionalist Workers Party, including leader Matthew Heimbach, were seen punching antifa protesters and slamming them to the ground.
Although as a public school MSU had to allow Spencer to rent space to speak, the venue was a livestock pavilion at a remote end of campus.
Students are on spring break. But hundreds of antifa protesters turned out, shouting profanities at Spencer supporters and police.
Members of the various anti-fascist groups and other protesters yell at police officers on the campus of MSU
Members of the alt-right including Matthew Heimbach (right) march in formation as they enter the MSU campus
Antifa demonstrators clash with police before the start of a speech by Richard Spencer, who popularized the term ‘alt-right’
Protesters clash with supporters of white nationalist Richard Spencer during Spencer’s visit to Michigan State University
Antifa protesters and supporters of white nationalist Richard Spencer clash outside the venue where Spencer spoke
A group trying to enter the Richard Spencer event, right, tussles with protesters outside the venue
Antifa protesters clash with Richard Spencer sympathizers, right, outside the Michigan State University Pavilion
White nationalists (right) clash with antifa before the start of a speech by white nationalist Richard Spencer
Spencer has called for the creation of a future state exclusively for white people, and popularized the term ‘alt-right’. He identifies his political philosophy as ‘Identitarianism’.
His speech, which had been scheduled for 4.30pm, was delayed by half an hour following the violence, but went forward. Photos from the auditorium show that only a handful of people made it inside to attend.
During the speech, Spencer blamed the violence on antifa and said several of his supporters had been hospitalized with broken bones and other injuries.
‘I am horrified by what happened outside,’ he said in remarks that were broadcast live. ‘The cause of that violence is a group of people who go by the name antifa.’
‘They are nasty, nasty people this is exactly what they want. And they want to blame violence on “nazis” or whatever nonsense they want to talk about. It is antifa and only antifa who are agressing against anyone,’ he continued.
A man with wounds on his face is detained by police outside the venue where Richard Spencer was scheduled to speak
A protester is detained by police officers outside of the Richard Spencer speech on the campus of Michigan State University
A member of the alt-right is detained outside of a Richard Spencer speech on the campus of Michigan State University
A protestor is carried off by police after he and others blocked a police vehicle from moving on Farm Lane on Monday
A protester is detained by police outside the venue where white nationalist Richard Spencer was scheduled to speak